Basic HTML Version
Touchline • Issue 15 • 23
GB OLYMPIAN DIES AS AMERICA’S
CUP BOAT CAPSIZES
Andrew “Bart” Simpson - a double Olympic medallist - has died
after a Swedish catamaran capsized during a training session
for the America’s Cup in San Francisco Bay in May. He was one
of an 11-man crew on board the Artemis Racing catamaran, the
team website said. Mr Simpson served as the Swedish team’s
strategist.
It said Mr Simpson, 36, from Sherborne in Dorset, was trapped
under the boat and efforts to revive him failed.
Artemis is a Swedish team due to take part in the America’s
Cup.
Mr Simpson represented Great Britain at two Olympic Games,
sailing in the Star class alongside Iain Percy, his Artemis team
boss. The pair took gold at the Beijing 2008 Games and silver
at London 2012.
Before last summer’s Olympics, Mr Simpson admitted that
winning the America’s Cup was his biggest goal.
The America’s Cup is inshore yachting’s premier event, and will
take place in San Francisco this year between July and September.
The first race took place around the Isle of Wight in 1851. US
yacht America won to spark 132 years of US domination until
Australia II broke the deadlock in 1983.
HOOK, LINE AND COVER
In the UK, around 130,000 people currently take part in angling
once a week but close to a million people fish once a month.
The popularity of the sport in Britain has grown in recent years,
helped by the presence of “extreme fishing” TV shows and
celebrity fans such as The X Factor’s Tulisa.
Sales of the Environment Agency Rod Licence have increased
by 35% in the last 10 years, with an estimated 6.1 million Brits
going either freshwater or sea fishing in the last two years.
Funding body Sport England recently announced a £1.8 million
investment to help the Angling Trust continue developing the
sport over the next four years.
And now British anglers can get specialist fishing insurance
thanks to a new product fully underwritten at Lloyd’s. Sportscover
have worked with the JRW Group to develop a bespoke insurance
cover for individual anglers.
“The fact is angling can be a very expensive sport if it goes wrong
and you don’t have the correct insurance,” said John Woosey,
Managing Director, The JRW Group. “Many anglers wrongly
believe they are covered under their household insurance. For
us, it’s a simple question of ‘Why take the risk?’”
The Fishing Care product’s policies include ‘New for Old’ cover
against theft, loss or damage to angling equipment, damage
to property, personal injury and personal liability. There are
five levels of cover to suit individual anglers’ budget and
requirements.
Paul Thomas, Underwriting Manager at Sportscover Europe
said: “Sportscover is delighted to be appointed the insurer for
the launch of Fishing Care. During many months of research
in consultation with leading individuals from the sport of
angling, we feel that the product will prove to be an attractive
proposition. Our long term partnership with The JRW Group
coupled with our specialism in sport insurance, underwritten
by Sportscover syndicate 3334 at Lloyd’s, provides a unique
opportunity to make a significant impact in this fast developing
sport”.
Andrew “Bart” Simpson